Installing Windows 7 New Distribution DVD onto partition

You can use a Windows 7 ISO downloaded from here, and activate it with the product key from the COA sticker on the computer. No need to use the HP Recovery DVD's.

What concerns me is how to keep the Windows bootloader overwriting the Linux GRUB bootloader. I'll ask Kaktussoft to comment here - he is more experienced with this and will be able to guide you better.

It will help to see the existing disk/partition layout:
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

bobsterman said:

Hey Guys and/or Girls,
Upgrading my Windows XP/ Ubuntu (GRUB2 Dual Boot) system to Windows 7.
Instead of buying a copy of Windows 7, I would like to use the Win7 install DVDs that came with the computer when it was purchased.
I have booted from the first of 3 discs for HP's Win7 install DVD's, however it said it had to format the entire disc and create only one primary partition.
Obviously, this isnt really what I wanted :).
Is it possible to install Windows 7 onto the older Windows XP partition without affecting the Ubuntu partition?
Thanks for any help!
Liam

Do you have a valid product key (COA)? Look on computer or maybe under battery
Write down the Product Key from COA sticker located on back or side of PC tower, bottom or under battery of notebook. Make sure you get the characters correct as this is a main cause of activation failure. You can input or Skip the key during install then afterwards activate at Control Panel>System, which may require a quick robocall. The COA sticker looks like this:

winxp came with computer? if so... delete partition HP_RECOVERY .... it's useless.
Did you save all important stuff from winxp? You have to, because we gonna distroy winxp in the process.

"I started downloading the English USA media refresh copy of Windows Professional"=>did you burn it already? Try to boot from it. Just to prove it's bootable.

post results

English USA media refresh copy of Windows Professionalis fine. Assuming you want english language. And you have to have a profesional license key. Did you take the x64 or x86 version? is your cpu 32 or 64 bits? How much memory do you have?

The dvd you burned is bootable???

bobsterman said:

Im pretty (95%) certain that the archetecture is 32 bit, so I got the x86 version. Is that right?
And yes when the ISO has downloaded I can burn it to a bootable DVD.
Is it possible to burn the ISO to a pen drive, that would save me a DVD.
Cheers,

32bit=x86 so correct. Can be installed to 4GB memory maximum. Installs on 64bits cpu as well.
To burn to usb:
If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the clean install with.
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Clean Install Windows 7

Please post back when burning or put to usb disk was successfull and system can actually boot from it. After that delete the winxp partition and install win7 in the large unallocated space Clean Install Windows 7

Post back when doen or having questions. After that I instruct you how to add linux in bootmenu